Jello Ocean Sensory Exploration

Ocean animals live at different depths in salt water. We used animal figures, light, and gelatin to explore this science concept in a hands on sensory activity for kids.

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We used the ocean animals from the Sea Life Mega TOOB to create a sensory exploration on the light table. We started by mixing and coloring unflavored Knoxx gelatin. We used four boxes to fill this huge ocean bowl. Our preschool daughter loved helping with the measuring, mixing, and pouring involved in creating the jello ocean world.

I slightly oiled the bowl so the gelatin ocean would come out easily when it was complete. We placed the animals that would live closest to the ocean's surface in first including the sea turtle and dolphin.

We poured the liquid gelatin around the Safari Ltd. animal figures, let the gelatin firm in the refrigerator, then repeated the process with more sea life animals.

Next came the whales since they come to the surface to breathe air. We continued all the way down to the animals that usually live on the ocean floor such as the octopus and the sting ray.

Creating our sea life bowl took two days but it was well worth the prep. When complete it slide out of the bowl effortlessly. Our daughter was excited with our results but the best was yet to come!

Once we put the gelatin ocean world on our light table we were all impressed with the effect! After a few minutes of admiring our creation and looking at all the creatures swimming within the depths, I let our preschooler dig in, literally.

The unflavored gelatin was the perfect choice for this sensory experience because it's not sticky. She dug into the gelatin with chopsticks, a spoon, a knife, and her hands. It was an engaging fine motor activity, too!

As she freed the sea creatures from the "water" we identified them together. Again we discussed where in the ocean we found them: near the surface, in the middle (for the sharks), or on the ocean floor. We studied the animals' details in the glow of the light table and the shimmering blue gelatin.

Do you already own Safari Ltd. toys or are they new to you? If you are like us, no matter how many of their figures you've collected you always want more!Safari Ltd. provided us with complimentary products for writing this review but, as always, all words and enthusiasm are 100% our own!

It is way too hard to choose! :-) I guess first we would love Ocean and Desert and would probably get carried away and pick up a dozen more, hahah! Thanks for an awesome play idea and giveaway opportunity!

I would have a hard time choosing but we are getting ready to discuss dinosaurs and I love this jello idea with the sea life. My favorite is the bundle of babies since a lot of my kids are going to be big brothers and sisters very soon!